Digital Health Technologies in the Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials

Abstract

Objective: To comprehensively examine the qualitative results of current studies reporting the efficacy of digital health (DH) technologies in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain syndromes (CPPS) and to describe the characteristics of these interventions. Materials and methods: In line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, CINAHL, MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched for trials published between database inception and July 2024. Randomized clinical trials using DH technologies for CPPS treatment were included. Methodological quality and risk of bias were appraised using the Downs and Black scale and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. Results: Six articles were included. Four studies showed pain reduction in both groups between baseline and the end of the study, but this reduction was significant only in the experimental groups. One study showed an increase in pain intensity in all the groups, although it was smaller in the experimental groups. The last study found significant pain reduction in both groups, with no significant difference between them. Conclusions: DH technologies seem to offer some improvement in CPPS patients’ pain intensity. However, the studies showed high heterogeneity, which influences the consistency of the results.